Photo: UBC Okanagan
Misinformation is not uncommon in today’s society, but it’s not often discussed in the conservation world – something that is alarming researchers from six universities.
A study recently published by a team from the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science at UBC Okanagan, including the Canadian Research Chair in Wildlife Restoration Ecology Dr. Adam Ford and Dr. Clayton Lamb, of the Liber Ero Fellowship, explains how some scientists, interest groups and the general public are destroying efforts to conserve biodiversity through their actions.
“Results, not intentions, should be the foundation of how we see success in conservation,” says Dr. Ford.
“Misinformation related to vaccines, climate change, and links between smoking and cancer have made it difficult for science to develop better strategies for people,” he says.
“Using intelligence to attack other groups hinders our ability to solve problems that affect almost everyone. We wanted to know whether these problems are also a problem for people who are committed to the preservation of biological diversity. Conservation is imperfect and things can go wrong. Sometimes people mean well and damage happens by accident. Sometimes people’s actions are much darker. “
The study, called FACETS, shows examples of how good intentions have ended badly around the world. This includes the case of the Huemul deer in Patagonia National Park in Chile.
“We examined a case where the primary goal of a newly established park was to protect the endangered Huemul deer. The aim was to make the landscape a little better for these deer in the hope of increasing the population, ”explains Dr. Lamb. “In this way, they removed the native cattle from the park, and as a result, the natural predators in the system have lost their usual food source and have eaten many of the deer, further decreasing the population. It is a textbook case of misguided conservation. “
Other cases include mass petitions to stop shark finning in Florida, despite the previously banned practice of planting a type of milkweed to save monarch butterflies but instead only harming them and being closer to home – misinformation related to exchange with the grizzly bear hunt in British Columbia.
“When we see a nationwide policy like banning grizzly hunts, these contradict the wishes of some local communities in some parts of the province, and the decision to dampen their perspectives is damaging to relationships and alienating the partners we need to be on board protect biodiversity. ” says Dr. Ford.
How can we fix some of these problems? Dr. Ford suggests using a “big tent” approach.
“We have to work together on the 90 percent of the goals we have in common instead of focusing on the 10 percent of the issues we disagree on. There are many clear achievements for humans and wildlife waiting to be implemented right now. We have to work together to achieve this, ”he says.
In this way, we can improve collaboration between the parties and improve evidence-based approaches to conservation. This will ultimately stop the spread of misinformation and polarization.
“While we see some misdirected efforts, in many of these cases we also see real caring and good energy in the church. We just have to find a way to use this energy in the right direction. “
